The 'Core Offer' of Extended Services
Quality Childcare
Secondary schools should provide – or have arrangements to provide access to – a safe place to be before and after school hours and during holidays, offering access to a varied menu of study support and enrichment activities, including a range of the following:
- "Catch up" and "stretch" activities; homework clubs
- Arts activities e.g. dance, drama, arts, crafts
- Sports activities (at least 2 hours per week for those who want it)
- Other recreational activities, e.g. special interest clubs, music tuition, modern foreign languages, volunteering, business and enterprise activities, visits to museums and galleries
Varied Menu Of Activities
- Giving children and young people a choice of opportunities to enjoy and excel outside of the classroom.
- Primary schools should provide access to high-quality childcare, 8am-6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks of the year.
- Secondary schools should provide a safe place to be before and after school hours.
Parenting Partnership
- Information sessions for parents and carers of pupils joining reception and on transfer to secondary school.
- Information about nationally and locally available sources of advice and support.
- Access to parenting groups that use structured, evidence-based parenting programmes, as well as more informal opportunities for parents to engage with the school and each other.
- Family learning sessions allowing children to study with their fathers and mothers, where consultation has shown there is a demand.
Swift & Easy Access
- IN-SCHOOL SUPPORT to help children and young people access support directly, either through drop in provision or through the curriculum (e.g. SEAL or PSHE)
- REFERRAL to specialist services, ensuring that children and young people are kept fully informed of what is happening.
Community Access
- Where there is demand, schools should open up suitable facilities to community users. Arts facilities, sports halls and playing fields, ICT suites and school halls are the type of facility that communities could access – outside of school hours, and even during the school day, if practical.
- Take a role in supporting the development of the youth offer in the community by opening up facilities to youth organisations and other services as appropriate.
- Offering access to adult learning programmes